3. Grandes Écoles in France

1. 3.1. Introduction
2. 3.2. Admission

3.1. Introduction

There are approximately 250 grandes écoles where the country’s future elite are taught. These are the most prestigious higher education institutions in France.

The main grandes écoles are those of the Ecoles d'ingénieurs and Ecoles de commerce.

There are also more specialist Ecole Normale Supérieure (ENS), Ecole Nationale d'Administration (ENA), Institut d'Etudes Politiques (IEP) and Ecoles Nationales Vétérinaires (ENV).

The qualification awarded in the main schools are either Diplome d’ingenieur or Diplome de Grande Ecole.

The pass rate at end of five or six years is nearly 100%.

Only a few hundred students are admitted to each of the grandes écoles each year. Nevertheless, they have strong European and international links and endeavour to recruit on an international basis.